Lovers’ spat or not, cops must probe, says NGO

 

A women’s rights organisation says the Domestic Violence Act should cover all intimate relationships, not just between spouses.

PETALING JAYA: Be it a “lovers’ spat” or not, the police must investigate any suspected case of domestic abuse so long as bodily or emotional harm was involved, says a women’s rights group.

Abinaya Mohan of the Women’s Aid Organisation said domestic violence could take on different forms and no case should be dismissed based on assumptions by the police or the public.

She said even if it was indeed a case of a lovers’ quarrel, the police have the responsibility to investigate if any harm was inflicted.

Abinaya was commenting on a recent viral posting, in which a woman, believed to be a victim of domestic violence, alleged that the police dismissed the case as a “lovers’ spat” in which the suspected perpetrator had “no intentions to physically batter (beat)” her.

She said at no point was she advised to go for a medical checkup, and the police subsequently told her they would not conduct further investigations.

However, on Wednesday, Putrajaya district police chief Asmadi Abdul Aziz said an investigation was opened after a report was lodged on March 27. He said witness statements had been recorded and a medical report obtained to complete the investigation. He urged the public not to speculate on the case.

Abinaya said current laws should be amended to allow abuse survivors to report and seek justice without being ridiculed or having their experiences invalidated.

She said the Domestic Violence Act must be extended to cover all intimate relationships as currently, it only protects spouses, former spouses, children and family members.

“This would mean that survivors of violence who are not married will also be protected by the law,” she said, adding that there was no room for victim-blaming, shaming and moral policing by law enforcement officers tasked with assisting victims.

All Women’s Action Society information and communications chief Jernell Tan said domestic abuse victims may only be truly protected with “gender-responsive” policing.

She said law enforcement officers must be aware of and implement their responsibilities as stated in the act, which includes providing or arranging transport for the victim to obtain medical treatment if required.

She said law enforcement officers should be given regular training to increase gender sensitivity levels and knowledge of domestic violence case management. - FMT